Main Cast: Tab Hunter, Dawn Addams, Porter Hall, James Seay, Harry Lauter
Release Year: 1954
Country: US
Run Time: 75 minutes
Plot
Famed German filmmaker E. A. Dupont, who in his peak years was responsible for such classics as Variety, merely goes through the motions in this updated sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Instead of Jim Hawkins, the film offers Jim's beautiful female descendant Jamesina (Dawn Addams), who manages to get her hands on Captain Flint's fabled treasure map. This makes Jamesina the target of a variety of scurrilous fortune-hunters, including phony archeologist Harris (Porter Hall) and the malevolent, sightless Newman (James Seay). It is handsome archeological student Clive Stone (Tab Hunter) who helps Jamesina locate the treasure and elude the villains. At least Return to Treasure Island wasn't intended to be taken seriously. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
A B movie that is low not just on budget but on just about everything, Return to Treasure Island may appeal to the very young or to those who feel that absolutely ANYTHING pirate-related is worth watching, but not really to anyone else. The gender switch with the lead character has some potential interest, but little is done with it. The screenplay in general has far too little imagination. You can pretty accurately predict what the characters are going to say before they say it, and even more accurately predict where the plot is going to go before it gets there. Ewald Andre Dupont's direction is perfunctory, a sad comedown for someone of genuine talent and ability. Dawn Addams is quite lovely, with a fresh face and an innocence that are quite appealing. Unfortunately, she's not a great actress and certainly cannot carry as much of the picture as she is asked to do here. Likewise, Tab Hunter looks great but acts (and narrates) blandly. There are scattered moments of interest here and there, but overall it's a film to pass by. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
